1 Corinthians 9:19-23·~1 min

Paul the Servant to All

Paul says that though he is free from obligation to all, he has made himself a slave to all in order to win as many as possible. He describes becoming like Jews, like those under the law, like those outside the law, and like the weak, not because he has no center, but because everything is governed by the gospel and by the desire that some might be saved.

T¹⁹hough I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. ²¹To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Section summaryThough free from everyone, Paul deliberately becomes a servant to everyone so that more people may be won. His flexibility toward Jews, those under the law, those outside the law, and the weak is not compromise but mission, because he bends himself to others' conditions while remaining under Christ's law for the sake of the gospel.

Role in the chapterThis section moves from surrendered support to surrendered self-presentation. It shows the same principle of voluntary limitation now operating across Paul's whole missionary life.